La Mesa Relay for Life money goes directly to local families dealing with cancer

La Mesa Relay for Life at Northmont Elementary School raised more than $15,000 which helps local families pay for their incidentals like gas, food, rent, and utilities.

Relay is a fundraising event in conjunction with the American Cancer Society. It is unique since the funds raised stay within each individual community helping those families with their most basic needs.

Participants walked in teams around a track for a 24 hour period. At least one person from each team is walking at all times.

Each Relay for Life begins with the Survivors lap and the La Mesa relay added a dove release ceremony. This lap celebrated each survivors victory over cancer and recognized each caregivers support.

The Luminaria Ceremony began after dark to honor those lost to cancer, those who are currently fighting and those who have beaten all odds. La Mesa

At the end of the 24 hour period if the fight back ceremony where each person commits to continue to fight against the disease that has threatened to take their loved ones from them.

One such family is the LeBlanc family at Northmont elementary school who received the news that no parent ever wants to hear. Their 8-year-old son Jacob was diagnosed with leukemia. All his twin brother Calder wanted was “for his family to be together again.” Jacob was in the hospital last year during the event participating as a survivor.

There were teachers, neighbors, friends, parents, and children all survivors and all walking together for one reason—to help support one another in their time of need and crisis. It goes to remind us that it takes a community to survive, we cannot do it alone.